Headlamp construction



HEADLAMP CONS TRUCTION Filed Jan. 18, 1936 5M1: -IIITI ATTORNEY.

Patented Jan. 4, 1938 HEADLAMP CONSTRUCTION William H. Peters, FlatRock, Mich, assignor to Ford Motor Company, Dearborn, Mich, acorporation of Delaware Application January 18, 1936, Serial No. 59,715

3 Claims.

The object of my invention is to provide a headlamp especially adaptedfor use on automotive vehicles.

Specifically, the object of my invention is to provide a headlightwherein the reflector is supported therein in an improved manner. Myimproved method of supporting the reflectors is believed to secure abetter seal with the lens thereby preventing dust and water fromtarnishing the reflecting surface of the reflector.

A further object of my invention is to provide a method of supportingthe reflector whereby the reflector is resiliently held within theheadlamp housing after the lens has been removed therefrom so that thelamp bulbs may be conveniently replaced in the reflector and at the sametime easy removal of the reflector from the housing is assured.

Still a further object of my invention is to provide a simple andinexpensive means for urging the reflector at a plurality of pointsaround its rim into contact with the lens to thereby prevent distortionof the reflector.

With these objects in view,-my'invention consists in the arrangement,construction and combination of the various parts of my improved device,as described in the specification, claimed in my claims, and illustratedin the accompanying drawing, in which:

Figure 1 is a vertical central sectional view through a headlightincorporating my improve ment.

Figure 2 is a sectional view, taken on the line 22 of Figure 1, and

Figure 3 is a sectional view, taken on the line 3-3 of Figure 2.

Referring to the accompanying drawing, I have used the reference numeralID to indicate a lamp housing formed in the shape of a paraboloid, theopen end of which is formed with a cylindrical lens ring seat Htherearound. An annular flange l2 extends still further inwardly fromthe outer end of the seat I I and a lamp door I3 is formed in a ringshape, the inner end of which is adapted to bear against the seat IIand. to be detachably secured in position by means of a pair ofresilient holders. These holders comprise a spring clip I4 which issecured inside of the housing I and which is provided with an ear I5which extends upwardly through a suitable slot in the upper portion ofthe seat ll so as to coact with the door l3 to thereby resilientlyretain the upper edge of the lamp door upon this seat. A quicklydetachable clamp l6 secures the bottom portion of the door I3 to thehousing. A

spherical lens I? is fitted into the door I3, the periphery of the lenshaving a flat annular face 20 formed therearound which face is adaptedto bear against a reflector gasket !9 to thus make a comparativelydust-tight joint therebetween. A reflector I8 is formed in the shape ofa paraboloid with an annular channel 26 extending around its periphery,in which channel the annular cork gasket I9 is disposed, the gasket I9bearing against the face 20 to form the joint between 10 the lens andreflector.

The portion of the device so far described is quite conventional;however, the means for resiliently urging the reflector against thelens, and resiliently retaining the reflector in the housing It] isbelieved to be novel.

It will be noted from Figures 2 and 3 that I have provided three springclips 2|, the center portion 22 of each of which is formed in the shapeof an inverted U with the arm portions 23 extending outwardly anddownwardly. Each arm 23 is provided with an opening in its outer endwhich is adapted to receive a tongue 24 which is pressed from the rearface of the channel 26. The clips 2i are so formed that when they arepushed downwardly against the rear face of the reflector the outer endsof the arms spread out so that the tongues 24 may be inserted into theopenings therein. When the clips are allowed to resume their normalshape, they are secured to the reflector by means of these tongues.

Three clips 2| are equally spaced around the periphery of the reflectorso that the arms thereof bear against the back of the channel 26 at sixpoints around the periphery of the reflector. The flange I2 is providedwith three rectangularshaped slots 25 in its inner edge, these slotsbeing equally spaced therearound. The slots 25 are of a width slightlyless than the width of the U-shaped portions 22 of the clips 2|, and areso disposed that the portions 22 of the three clips may with areasonable pressure enter the three slots 25. However, the U-shapedportions 22 are so proportioned that they retain the reflector in thehousing under the normal pull required to remove a bulb from thereflector, but will not retain the reflector in the housing against asubstantial pull.

In order to assemble the lamp the clips 2| are assembled to the tongues24, then the reflector 5 with the clips is inserted into the housing,the portion 22 of the clips entering the slots 25. The lamp door andlens is then hooked over the ear l5 and drawn in position upon the seatII by means of the clamp H5, at which time the face 20 of the lenscoacts with the gasket l9 to thereby compress the clips 21. Due to thearms 23 extending in opposite directions, the back of the channel 26 isresiliently urged at six different points against the face 20.Distortion of the reflector is thereby minimized.

Among the many advantages arising from the use of my improved device, itmay be well to mention that the reflector is resiliently urged intocontact with the lens at all times, thereby securing a dust-tight jointtherebetween. Furthermore, the reflector is retained in the housingagainst a pull required to remove the lamp bulbs. Still further, thereflector is retained in the housing without the use of screws or otherdevices which might cause distortion of the reflector if not installedwith the right tension.

Some changes may be made in the arrangement, construction andcombination of the various parts of my improved device without departingfrom the spirit of my invention, and it is my intention to cover by myclaims such changes as may reasonably be included within the scopethereof.

I claim as my invention:

.1. .A headlamp construction comprising, an open ended housing having anannular seat formed around its open end, an annular flange extendinginwardly from the outer end of said seat, a lamp door detachably securedon said annular seat, said door having a lens therein and said lenshaving a flat annular face formed around its periphery, a reflectordisposed within said housing, said reflector having an annular gasketretaining channel formed around its periphery, a gasket disposed in saidchannel in position to coact with the flat face on said lens, aplurality of spring clips each of which has a U-shaped center portionwith circumferentially extending arms, the outer end of each of saidarms being detachably secured to said channel, while the U-shaped centerportions of said clips are resiliently secured in suitable slots formedin said inwardly extending flange, said clips being so proportioned thatsaid arms resiliently urge said gasket against said lens and theU-shaped portion resiliently prevents the withdrawal of the reflectorfrom said housing.

2. A head lamp construction comprising, an open-ended housing, areflector and lamp bulb assembly disposed in said housing, a lenssecured over said reflector, and a plurality of flat spring clipsdisposed around the periphery of said reflector, each of which is formedwith a U-shaped center portion and with resilient arms formed integrallytherewith extending circumferentially from said center portion, theouter ends of said arms being secured to the rear side of said reflectorwith the U-shaped center portion inserted into suitable apertures insaid housing, there being sulflcient friction between the housing andsaid center portion that an axial force on the reflector caused by theremoval of the lamp bulb therefrom will not draw said reflector from thehousing, and said circumferentially extending arms resiliently urgingsaid reflector against the lens when the lamp is in its assembledcondition.

3. A head lamp construction comprising, an open-ended housing, a flangeextending inwardly from said open end, a door secured over the said openend, said door having a lens therein, a reflector and lamp bulb assemblydisposed within said housing between said flange and lens, a gasketsecured around the periphery of said reflector in position to coact withsaid lens, a plurality of pairs of ears extending from the rear face ofthe periphery of said reflector aligned with said gasket, and aplurality of flat spring clips having their center portions formed witha U-shape, with arms extending circumferentially around the reflectorrim in each direction from the center portion, the outer ends of saidarms being apertured to receive said ears, and said ears coacting withsaid arms, said clips being positively secured to the reflector and thecenter portion of each clip being frictionally secured in suitableapertures in said flange to resist an axial pull on said reflectornecessary for the removal of the lamp bulb therefrom.

WILLIAM H. PETERS.

